In a significant development for the FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) ecosystem in India, ABP News has emerged as the most-watched Hindi news channel on Connected TV, in terms of unique viewers.

Meanwhile, Republic Bharat has made a mark with the highest viewer engagement, as per the latest data released by Chrome Digital Track for Week 15, 2025.

The report, shared by ChromeDm, highlights the performance of Hindi News FAST channels across the Connected TV universe, based on metrics such as Opportunity to See (OTS), Unique Viewers, and Conversion Rate. While ABP News led the pack with 1.17 percent of CTV households tuning in, closely followed by Aaj Tak at 1.15percent, it was Republic Bharat that recorded the most effective engagement, converting 2.10 percent of its OTS into actual viewers. This achievement stands out all the more as Republic Bharat had a comparatively lower OTS of 49.20 percent, yet managed to outperform its competitors on viewer conversion.

In contrast, TV9 Bharatvarsh, despite having the highest OTS among the top five channels at 67.57 percent, saw only 0.94 percent of CTV households tuning in, resulting in the lowest conversion rate of 1.36 percent. The data underscores the growing importance of not just reach, but also the ability to retain and engage viewers in an increasingly competitive CTV environment.

ChromeDm’s Digital Track platform utilizes a panel-based system to monitor Connected TV viewing behavior. Using a mixed-methodology approach that includes digital fingerprinting and real-time activity tracking, the data reflects viewership habits across 94.5 million connected TV households in India. These include any homes that accessed the internet via Smart TV or external streaming devices at least once in the past quarter.
The report further highlights that the FAST channel landscape in India is expanding rapidly, with 134 channels now operating across 33 genres—from Punjabi music and regional news to infotainment and Hindi cinema. Samsung continues to dominate the OEM space, offering the widest FAST channel lineup on its connected TV platforms.

This surge in FAST channel consumption is seen as a clear indicator of the Indian viewer’s growing appetite for linear-style, ad-supported content, without the burden of monthly subscription costs. As CTV penetration deepens and advertisers seek better targeting and scale, FAST platforms are becoming a vital touchpoint for both media planners and broadcasters.

The competition among Hindi news broadcasters in the CTV space is heating up, and this week’s ChromeDm report shows that while ABP News has the numbers, Republic Bharat is winning where it truly counts—viewer impact.